MEET THE RANCH OWNER
Hi, I’m Shayne, the ranch owner. I spend much of my time on the ranch teaching horsemanship and cowboying both in and outside of the arena. I started the ranch in 1998, inspired by the idea of a guest ranch that could share the grandness and excitement of the cowboy way, whilst using Buck Brannaman horsemanship, to all levels of riders. Many doubted that such a feat could be accomplished but here we are, now at the 27 year mark! What we do here is unique and we have a passion for horses and horsemanship and sharing it with you all. This passion also shows itself in every horse, wrangler and guest who comes here. I have been riding with Buck for 30 years. He has been my only mentor and he is also my best friend. I cannot even count the number of clinics I’ve ridden in over the years, but I can tell you it’s never enough! I am a dedicated student and I look forward to sharing all I’ve learned with everyone who comes to visit McGinnis Meadows.
Please let me introduce the rest the crew who you will meet on your journey here…
Meet
Our Amazing Team
Get to know the dedicated individuals who make McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest Ranch a truly special place. Each member brings a unique set of skills and a deep love for horses.
Ranch Manager
Des Sides
Des is originally from Southern California but has really adopted Montana as her home these last 16 years she’s been at the ranch. Des rides many of the colts, future guest horses and a handful of client horses in addition to assisting Shayne in teaching horsemanship to the guests. That’s in addition to keeping the ranch running like a well-oiled machine!
Chef
Holly Hairston
Holly wanted to see if she would still enjoy returning to ranch cooking as much as she did earlier in her career, so she applied for the head chef position at McGinnis Meadows and began this new experience in 2021. Holly is happiest when guests enjoy their meal, so be sure and tell her how much you love her cooking because we know you will!
Vet Tech & Wrangler
Brenda Reynolds
Over 10 years ago Brenda joined the ranch desiring to learn more about the Buck style of horsemanship. Now she manages the health of our large herd and manages the health of the cattle. She can be seen helping guests out in the mountains as well as a capable hand doing most jobs at the ranch.
Wrangler
Jenna Wymetalek
Jenna joined the team in 2022 as an intern desiring to deep dive into all aspects of horsemanship. She had gotten a taste of Buck's teaching and wanted more! She is now a wrangler and helps with all aspects of the horses. She loves teaching what she has learned to guests! Jenna can be found helping wherever is needed with a smile on her face.
Wrangler
Lainey Harvill
Lainey interned in 2024 and is staying on for 2025. Lainey is experience in veterinary care and helps Brenda with the herd health. Lainey is also helping manage the office at the ranch! She is a bright smiling face you'll be happy to meet! She brought her horse Pete to the ranch and is enjoying the horsemanship journey with him!
Remote Wrangler
Sami Malik
Sami was full time on the ranch from 2022-2024, but life back in Georgia called her back to her home farm. She's now in Texas riding and teaching. Sami can be found at the ranch throughout the year as time allows. She is also behind the scenes on our website & design pieces throughout the year and helping with office items as needed.
Remote Wrangler
Janice Sibilia
Janice spent 9 years at the ranch on staff because of her deep love for this style of horsemanship. Life circumstances called her back home to New York in 2022 but she still returns to the ranch to help out and continue honing her horsemanship skills. The ranch will always be family!
Ranch Hand
CJ Jackson
CJ returned to the family ranch after a 7 year hiatus. He’s excited to be back working at the ranch for his dad, Shayne, and enjoy all that McGinnis Meadows has to offer. He loves being out in nature and working with his hands. Coming back seemed like the perfect fit. You’ll catch him fixing fences, feeding horses, and generally trying to keep all of the parts of the ranch in working order.
Ranch Hand
Willy Vincent
Willy has been here at the ranch for many years and although he works behind the scenes, he is an integral part of the operation. Willy can be seen on any given day logging, clearing, and operating our heavy equipment. As you are riding along be it on the ranch, don’t be surprised if you come across some cool stone art that will have you asking “How in the world did that get there?”…we know the answer